Abel and Melchizedek Sacrificing | Art for Lent 5 B

Hebrews 5:10 …having been designated by God a high priest according to the order of Melchizedek.

Abel and Melchizedek Sacrificing
Abel and Melchizedek Sacrificing
Mosaic on the right (south) lunette of the chancel, depicting Melchizedek making an offering of bread and wine
521-547
Basilica di S. Vitale
Ravenna
Italy

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Previously posted:
Year B

The Brazen Serpent | Art for Lent 4 B

John 3:14 And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up,

Jesus' cleansing of the Temple
MICHELANGELO Buonarroti
(b. 1475, Caprese, d. 1564, Roma)
The Brazen Serpent
1511
Fresco, 585 x 985 cm
Cappella Sistina, Vatican
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Click here for a previous post of March 18, 2012 including a variety of other informative links.

Jesus’ cleansing of the Temple | Art for Lent 3 B

John 2:17 His disciples remembered that it was written, “Zeal for your house will consume me.”

Jesus' cleansing of the Temple
Jesus’ cleansing of the Temple
Painted screen sculpture in the niches in the north transept, depicting Jesus’ cleansing of the Temple
1508-1519
Cathédrale d’Amiens
Polychrome relief sculpture
Amiens, France
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Previously posted:
Year B

The Book of Kells for you to see

Trinity College in Dublin has made the Book of Kells available to all. See for yourself.

Symbols of the Four Evangelists from the Book of Kells

Quote . . .The Book of Kells contains the four Gospels in Latin based on the Vulgate text which St Jerome completed in 384AD, intermixed with readings from the earlier Old Latin translation. The Gospel texts are prefaced by other texts, including “canon tables”, or concordances of Gospel passages common to two or more of the evangelists; summaries of the gospel narratives (Breves causae); and prefaces characterizing the evangelists (Argumenta). The book is written on vellum (prepared calfskin) in a bold and expert version of the script known as “insular majuscule”. It contains 340 folios, now measuring approximately 330 x 255 mm; they were severely trimmed, and their edges gilded, in the course of rebinding in the 19th century. Abstract posted by Trinity College Dublin

Get Thee Behind Me Satan | Art for Lent 2 B

Mark 8:33 But turning and looking at his disciples, he rebuked Peter and said, “Get behind me, Satan! For you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things.”

Get Thee Behind Me Satan
Get Thee Behind Me Satan
between 1886 and 1894
Tissot, James Jacques Joseph, 1836-1902
Watercolor
Brooklyn Museum
New York

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Christ Served by Angels | Art for Lent 1 B

Mark 1:13 He was in the wilderness forty days, tempted by Satan; and he was with the wild beasts; and the angels waited on him.

Christ Served by Angels
LANFRANCO, Giovanni
Christ Served by Angels
c. 1616
Oil on canvas, 100 x 126 cm
Museo Nazionale di Capodimonte, Naples
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Transfiguration | Art for B Epiphany Last

Mark 9:2 Six days later, Jesus took with him Peter and James and John, and led them up a high mountain apart, by themselves. And he was transfigured before them,

Transfiguration
Transfiguration
Miniature from an Armenian Gospel (Ms 6201. Fol 6).
1038.
Matenadaran, Yerevan, Armenia.
Click image for Orthodox representations of the Transfiguration.

Previous postings:
Year A
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Christ in the Act of Healing | Art for Epiphany 5B

Mark 1:33
That evening, at sundown, they brought to him all who were sick or possessed with demons.

Christ in the Act of Healing
Christ in the Act of Healing
Third-fourth century
Vatican City. Direzione generale dei musei
Rome, Italy
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Legend of St Francis: 10. Exorcism of the Demons at Arezzo| Art for Epiphany 4B

Mark 1:23
Just then there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit…

Exorcism of the Demons at Arezzo
GIOTTO di Bondone
Legend of St Francis: 10. Exorcism of the Demons at Arezzo
1297-99
Fresco, 270 x 230 cm
Upper Church, San Francesco, Assisi

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Previously posted on January 28, 2012

Jonah Swallowed up by the Whale| Art for Epiphany 3 B

Jonah 3:1 The word of the LORD came to Jonah a second time…

Jonah Swallowed up by the Whale
GIOTTO di Bondone
Jonah Swallowed up by the Whale (on the decorative band)
1304-06
Fresco
Cappella Scrovegni (Arena Chapel), Padua
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Previously posted January 22, 2012

Although this humorous detail from the Cappella Scrovegni is not the focus of our reading of Jonah today and was probably executed by an assistant of Giotto, I can’t resist the urge to invite you to spend some time with the whole work.
Click to explore this impressive interior.